Events & News

News Archive 2009

NOVEMBER

NYS Access to Justice Program and CUNY Law School Launch VLFD Housing Program

The NYS Courts Access to Justice Program launched a Program to represent people who do not have lawyers for their housing matters. Eleven Law Graduates from the City University New York School of Law will be available one day a week in Brooklyn and Manhattan Housing Court to help tenants negotiate cases with their landlords. The Law Graduates will be under the supervision of experienced court staff. It is hoped that this program will be expanded to other areas of the City and Courts.

JULY

New DIY Form Paternity Petition Program

The NYS Courts Access to Justice Program announced another new DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Forms computer programs designed to assist unrepresented litigants with completing paternity petitions. The program gently guides the user through a series of questions then produces a customized paternity petition based upon the litigant's responses. Once the petition is filed, the court holds a hearing in Family Court to decide who is the child's biological father. Unrepresented litigants can use this program if they are either the mother or a man who believes he is the father of the child, and they are not married to the other parent. The program is available on CourtHelp.

The NYS Courts Access to Justice Program launched an Uncontested Divorce Clinic for unrepresented litigants in New York County Supreme Court. Volunteer attorneys assist unrepresented litigants with the preparation of uncontested divorce forms. Training of volunteers for this program was conducted in collaboration with the New York Legal Assistance Group. The program will expand to Kings County later this summer and will soon be offered in additional counties.

JUNE

The NYS Courts Access to Justice Program announced new DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Forms computer programs designed to assist unrepresented litigants. The programs gently guide users through a series of questions then produce customized court forms and information sheets based upon the litigant's responses. The new DIY Forms include a Family Court Support Modification Petition Program; a Supreme Court Adult Name Change Program; and a Surrogate Court's Small Estate Affidavit Program. The programs are available on CourtHelp

MAY

In response to President Obama’s support of a nationwide effort to foster community service, the City has launched an initiative called NYC Service. One component of this effort is NYC Legal Outreach. NYC Legal Outreach is a joint effort by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman to tap into the considerable pool of legal talent available in New York City to increase the numbers of attorneys who contribute their volunteer pro bono time and energies to needy New Yorkers who have been particularly hard-hit by the recession. Read their open letter urging attorneys to volunteer their time.